law
law — noun
1. a written rule that a government or other authority creates, telling people in a
a written rule that a government or other authority creates, telling people in a society what they must or must not do.
The city council passed a new law that bans plastic bags at all supermarkets and shops.
pass a law — officially create a new legal rule
Tunde never breaks the law, even when he is in a hurry and no one is watching.
break the law — do something illegal
Under the new law, every factory must report how much waste it produces each year.
under the law — according to a specific rule
Kwame hired a lawyer to check whether the sale of the old house followed the law correctly.
Luca was fined five hundred dollars for ignoring a local law about noise after midnight.
- pass a law
- break the law
- obey the law
- under the law
- new law
- existing law
- rule
broader term; can apply to games, schools, or social groups, not just government
- regulation
usually more specific and technical, issued by an official body like a ministry
- statute
formal term for a law passed by a parliament or legislature
Usage Note
Often paired with verbs like 'pass', 'break', 'obey', 'follow', and 'enforce'. The preposition 'under' is common: 'under this law, X is illegal.'
Common Mistakes
2. the whole collection of rules that governs a particular country, community, or s
the whole collection of rules that governs a particular country, community, or specific field, along with how those rules are put into practice.
By law, every child in this country must attend school until the age of sixteen.
by law — as required by the legal system
Ritu studied British law before moving to Singapore to work as a legal advisor.
The legal system in Japan requires both sides in a dispute to try mediation before going to court.
legal system — the whole body of law in a country
Anya argued that the company had violated international trade law by refusing to deliver the goods.
international law — law that applies across countries
Under Canadian law, all citizens have the right to a fair trial with a lawyer present.
- by law
- under the law
- against the law
- international law
- criminal law
- civil law
- legal system
more explicit phrase for the entire institutional framework
- legislation
refers specifically to laws made by a parliament, not the whole system
- jurisprudence
formal/academic term for the theory and philosophy of law
Usage Note
Uses the definite article ('the law') when referring to a specific country's system. Without an article ('law' alone) it functions as an uncountable mass noun referring to the general concept.
Common Mistakes
3. the subject or profession of understanding, teaching, and working with legal rul
the subject or profession of understanding, teaching, and working with legal rules — for example, as a lawyer, judge, or legal scholar.
Eli spent three years studying law before taking the bar exam in Jakarta.
study law — take a university degree in law
After graduation, Hassan decided to practice law in a small firm near his hometown.
practice law — work as a lawyer
Romi is thinking about going to law school after finishing her undergraduate degree in history.
go to law school — attend a law faculty
Professor Élise has taught criminal law at the university for more than twenty years.
Benjamin decided that a career in law was not for him after his first year at a large law firm.
- study law
- practice law
- go to law school
- law degree
- law firm
- career in law
- legal studies
academic term for the field as a university subject
- jurisprudence
more philosophical and theoretical; less common in everyday use
- legal profession
refers specifically to the career side, not the academic study
Usage Note
Used without an article in phrases like 'study law', 'practice law', 'go into law'. With 'the' when referring to a specific branch: 'the law of contracts'.
Common Mistakes
4. an informal way of talking about the police and other officials whose job is to
an informal way of talking about the police and other officials whose job is to make sure that legal rules are obeyed.
When the neighbours heard the gunshots, they immediately called the law.
call the law — informal for contacting the police
Putri has been in trouble with the law since she was a teenager, mostly for small thefts.
in trouble with the law — informal for being suspected by police
The law arrived within minutes of the alarm and blocked off the entire street.
Jason warned his younger brother to stay away from the law after the gang started causing trouble.
- the law
- call the law
- trouble with the law
- the law arrived
- police
neutral and formal; the standard term in most situations
- law enforcement
formal, broader term that includes police, sheriffs, and other agencies
- the authorities
more formal and broader still; can include non-police officials
Usage Note
Almost always used with the definite article ('the law'). This sense is informal; in formal contexts, use 'police' or 'law enforcement' instead.
5. the act of asking a court of law to make a formal decision about a disagreement
the act of asking a court of law to make a formal decision about a disagreement between two people or groups.
When the landlord refused to fix the leaking roof, Rania went to law over the issue.
go to law — take a dispute to court
The factory owner threatened to go to law if the government did not compensate him for the land.
Going to law can be very expensive, so many people try to settle their problems out of court.
Sade's family decided not to go to law and instead accepted the insurance payment offered by the company.
- go to law
- go to law over something
- threaten to go to law
- litigation
formal noun for the process of taking legal action
- legal proceedings
formal term for the official steps in a court case
- lawsuit
concrete noun for a specific case brought to court
- settlement
an agreement reached without going to court
- mediation
process where a neutral person helps both sides agree without court
Usage Note
Fixed expression 'go to law'. Less common than 'take someone to court' or 'file a lawsuit'. More frequent in British English than American.
Common Mistakes
6. a description of a natural process that is consistently true under identical cir
a description of a natural process that is consistently true under identical circumstances, especially in scientific fields.
Newton's law of gravity explains why things fall toward the ground when you drop them.
law of gravity — scientific principle
According to the law of supply and demand, prices rise when a product becomes harder to find.
law of supply and demand — economic principle
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed.
In physics class, Christopher tested the law of conservation of mass by melting an ice cube in a bag.
Newton's third law says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
- law of nature
- scientific law
- law of physics
- law of gravity
- law of supply and demand
- state a law
Usage Note
In science, 'law' describes a proven relationship that holds true universally under given conditions. It is stronger than a 'theory' (which can be modified) but less common in modern science than 'principle' or 'rule'.
Common Mistakes
To act in your own way without caring about rules or what others expect.
My neighbor is a law unto himself and parks wherever he wants.
Sara is a law unto herself; she never follows the office dress code.
go to law
idiomTo ask a court to solve a problem or disagreement.
After the accident, they decided to go to law for compensation.
Did the company go to law to stop the strike?
law and order
idiomA situation where people obey the law and behave peacefully.
The new government promised to restore law and order after the riots.
Citizens expect the police to maintain law and order in the city.
the law of averages
idiomThe idea that if you try something enough times, it will eventually happen.
By the law of averages, you'll win a prize if you enter every contest.
Maya kept applying for jobs, knowing the law of averages would work.
A situation where people are willing to harm others to succeed.
In that company, it's the law of the jungle—only the strongest survive.
The prisoners followed the law of the jungle, fighting for every advantage.
lay down the law
idiomTo tell someone forcefully what they must or must not do.
My boss laid down the law about using phones during work hours.
Grandma laid down the law: no snacks before dinner.
The exact words of a law or rule, not its general meaning.
The judge followed the letter of the law and gave the maximum sentence.
They obeyed the letter of the law but ignored its spirit.
In trouble with the police or involved in illegal activities.
He spent his youth on the wrong side of the law, committing petty crimes.
After the robbery, the gang was on the wrong side of the law.
If you have or control something, it's hard for others to take it even if they have a legal right.
Since she had the car keys, possession is nine tenths of the law.
The squatters argued that possession is nine tenths of the law.
the rule of law
idiomThe condition where everyone, including leaders, follows the law.
A healthy democracy depends on the rule of law and fair courts.
The country must strengthen the rule of law to attract investors.
To illegally punish someone instead of letting the police handle it.
Frustrated by the slow investigation, the victim's family took the law into their own hands.
The police warned citizens not to take the law into their own hands.
Used to say that you are not doing anything wrong, even if someone criticizes you.
I'll wear whatever I like—there's no law against being stylish.
There's no law against taking a break, so stop complaining.
law — verb
1. to take a disagreement or complaint to a court of law so that a judge can decide
to take a disagreement or complaint to a court of law so that a judge can decide who is right.
The two companies agreed to law their contract dispute rather than settle it privately.
law + [dispute] — litigate formally
Stephanie's family decided to law the hospital over the failed surgery.
The charity warned that it would law the mining company if the river pollution continued.
After months of failed talks, both sides chose to law the matter in federal court.
- law someone over something
- law a dispute
- sue
standard modern verb for taking someone to court
- litigate
formal; slightly broader, can mean to engage in any court process
- take to court
everyday phrasal equivalent
- settle
to reach an agreement without going to court
Grammar Patterns
law + [someone] + over/about + [issue]
Usage Note
Very rare in modern English. Much more common alternatives are 'sue', 'take to court', 'file a lawsuit against', or 'litigate'. This usage is mostly found in legal documents or older texts.
Common Mistakes
2. to bring a legal case against someone, either to get money for a wrong done to y
to bring a legal case against someone, either to get money for a wrong done to you (sue) or to accuse them of a crime (prosecute).
The customer threatened to law the company for selling a defective car that caused the accident.
law + [someone] + for + [reason]
The district attorney decided to law the suspect on charges of fraud and money laundering.
Lakan vowed to law the newspaper for printing false information about his business.
The landlord threatened to law the tenants if they did not pay the overdue rent.
- law someone for something
- law someone on charges of
- sue
standard for civil claims (money, damages)
- prosecute
standard for criminal charges brought by the state
- bring a case against
neutral formal expression covering both civil and criminal
- defend
the opposite action — to argue against a legal claim in court
Grammar Patterns
law + [someone] + for + [offence/claim]
Usage Note
Even rarer than sense 1. In modern English, 'sue' is used for private claims and 'prosecute' for criminal charges. The verb 'law' covering both is archaic.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
While all five words refer to some form of prescribed direction, they differ in scope and authority. 'Rule' is the broadest term — it applies to games, schools, clubs, or any organized activity ('the rules of chess'). 'Regulation' is more specific and formal, typically issued by an executive or administrative body rather than a legislature ('safety regulations at the factory'). 'Statute' is strictly a written law passed by a parliament or congress, making it the most authoritative in a democratic system. 'Legislation' is an uncountable mass noun covering all laws created by a legislative body — it suggests the process of lawmaking as much as the resulting rules themselves. 'Ordinance' is narrower still, usually referring to local laws passed by a city or county council. In practice: 'The city passed an ordinance banning single-use plastics, but national legislation on the same issue is still being debated.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- law enforcement
- law school
- law firm
- law student
- law professor
- law degree
- law book
- law court
Phrases
- break the law
- obey the law
- follow the law
- pass a law
- change the law
- test the law
- take the law into your own hands
Prepositions
- by law
- under the law
- according to law
- within the law
- against the law
Etymology
The word 'law' entered English from Old Norse 'lag' meaning 'something laid down or fixed', arriving via the Viking settlements in northern England around the 9th–10th centuries. It replaced the Old English word 'æ' (which survives in 'by-law'). The core idea — 'something placed or set in position' — evolved into 'a rule that has been laid down by authority'. The same Germanic root *lag- also gave us 'lay' (to put something down). Unlike many legal terms that came from Latin or French (such as 'justice', 'court', 'judge'), 'law' itself is a rare Germanic word in English legal vocabulary.